Studying for my criminology class, I came across this little nugget just now. The story is a little old, but it's still pertinent.

Quote from: Frank Schmalleger

Carolyn Risher, the 61-year-old Pentecostal mayor of Inglis, Florida, believes in an unusual crime-reduction strategy. In 2002, she issued an official proclamation banning Satan from Inglis and rendering him powerless over its 1,400 citizens. In the proclamation, issued on official town stationery, Risher wrote, "We exercise our authority over the devil in Jesus' name. By that authority . . . we command all satanic and demonic forces to cease their activities and depart the town of Inglis." While the mayor was undoubtedly well-intentioned, Mitchell Billups, the town's police chief, says that crime did not decrease after the mayor took action.

Oh, One Above, would that it were possible in the US to get such pronouncements from public officials considered dementia. Then at least they'd be quiet about their beliefs. They'd still have little trouble getting elected, though.

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Live a good life... If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones. I am not afraid.--Marcus Aurelius

Oh drat, now I'm gonna have to cancel my holiday plans to visit Inglis. And I heard it was such a lovely little town, full of souls ripe for corruption. Guess I'll Just go to Texas instead and make sure all those science books get changed to include 'so-called' intelligent design.

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You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

The mayor's speech is eerily reminiscent of Ray from Ghostbusters reading a cease-and-desist order to Gozer the Gozerian.

"Gozer the Gozerian... good evening. As a representative of the city, county and state of New York, I order you to cease and desist and and all supernatural activity and return forthwith to your place of origin, or the nearest convenient parallel dimension."

"That ought to do it Ray thanks very much."

"Are you a god?"

"No."

"Then... DIE!!!!"

bzzzzzt bzzzzt

"Ray, the next time someone asks if you're a god, you say YES!"

All from memory folks. GB is one of my favourite movies. So remember, the next time someone asks if you're a god, you say yes! I think we can all learn something from this.

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You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

A couple of years ago, I met Dan Aykroyd at an autograph session and told him that I had taken that line to heart. And then, in My capacity of Goddess of Random Equipment Malfunctions, I gave him a gift certificate for 50% off his next Random Equipment Malfunction (problem would last half as long, or cost half as much to fix).

I'm chiming in late on this one, but I have to say this story reminded me of the time (also in Florida!) when some "prayer group" anointed the highway with oil so "angels" would protect the area and convict sinners.

So then the Humanists of Florida Association then used "unholy water" to "wash away the blessing."